Somewhere on a snow-covered winter island...

The Red-Haired Pirates were holed up in a cave, nursing their hangovers.

"My head is killing me..."

Lying next to the fire, Red-Haired Shanks looked half-dead, his eyes vacant and dazed.

Last night, a polar bear near their camp gave birth to a cub. They were so thrilled by the event that they immediately held a banquet to celebrate.

They ended up drinking all night. Somewhere along the way, someone—drunk out of their mind—apparently slaughtered the polar bear and made a hotpot out of it...

Of course, even if the bear hadn't given birth, they would've found some other excuse to party. The feast was the main point. Nothing else really mattered.

Overhead, a news bird flew past the island.

Bang!

A shot rang out, startling the bird. It squawked and flapped frantically, dropping a newspaper as it fled.

Ben Beckman, the Red-Haired Pirates' first mate, casually picked up the paper. As a pirate, paying for things wasn't really his style.

"Heh, 1.5 billion bounty. This rookie named Sora is something else."

He glanced at the paper and chuckled. Beckman himself was from North Blue.

"A new face from North Blue, and his first bounty is already 1.5 billion."

"The guy you bet on—Straw Hat Luffy—might finally have a serious rival."

Returning to the cave, Beckman tossed the paper to Shanks and sat down, exhaling a puff of smoke.

The other members of the crew looked over in surprise.

A first bounty of 1.5 billion? That was insane.

Sure, North Blue was known for producing monsters, but this was next-level.

From Beckman to Doflamingo, to Admiral Akainu Sakazuki, Kizaru Borsalino, Vice Admiral Tsuru, and even her potential Admiral-ranked younger sister—North Blue had produced some of the world's strongest.

That was why it was known as the most powerful of the Four Blues.

"Beckman, you've got to trust my instincts."

Hic "No matter who shows up, the Pirate King will be Luffy."

Shanks burped and waved off the concern, not even slightly shaken.

In his view, Luffy was the chosen one—selected by the Mythical Zoan-type Nika Fruit.

A Devil Fruit with its own "will," the Nika Fruit had evaded the World Government's grasp for over 800 years, repeatedly slipping away until it reached Luffy.

All of that... was to await Luffy's birth.

In this vast sea—

Luffy was the true child of destiny.

Luffy was the warrior of hope meant to bring light to the world.

Luffy would be the next Pirate King.

Everyone else was just background noise.

Beckman shrugged. "Then let's wait and see."

The Grand Line, Calm Belt.

Amazon Lily, Kingdom of Women.

"Sora, the God-Slayer, killed a Celestial Dragon in North Blue..."

Boa Hancock, the Pirate Empress and one of the Seven Warlords of the Sea, stared at the paper in her hand in disbelief.

Beside her, Boa Sandersonia with green hair and Boa Marigold with orange hair both looked just as shocked.

As former slaves of the Celestial Dragons, they never imagined someone would dare to strike down one of those so-called "gods."

The last man to do so was the fishman hero Fisher Tiger, who climbed the Red Line by hand and freed the slaves. And even he had died in the end.

"Ahhh!!!"

Sandersonia suddenly let out a scream, breaking down in sobs. She had remembered the horrors she suffered as a slave, being the most tormented of the three sisters because of her rare green hair.

"Big sis!" Marigold quickly held Sandersonia, turning to Hancock for help.

Hancock frowned, then walked over and delivered a swift kick to the back of Sandersonia's neck, knocking her out.

"Take her away."

She gave the order and picked the paper back up, her eyes locking on Sora's photo.

A man brave enough to kill a Celestial Dragon... had earned her attention.

"I hope you survive long enough to reach the Grand Line."

World Economic News Headquarters.

"President!"

"Bad news—the World Government sent people!"

"They want us to retract all reports about the Celestial Dragon's death and forbid us from spreading the news any further!"

Morgans looked up from behind his desk, sneering. "Tell them to get lost."

As the king of the underground news world, Morgans wasn't one to bow to the World Government.

What he published was his decision alone.

"Morgans, watch your mouth."

"You'd better stop these reports immediately, or else..."

Several men in suits stepped into the office, issuing threats.

"Oh? Or else what?"

'Big News' Morgans took a sip of red wine, then sneered—and pounced.

Before the government agents could react, he had already laid into them, fists flying.

"You dare attack us?!"

The government men didn't expect Morgans to lash out physically. Within moments, they were all beaten to the ground.

Ptui!

Morgans spat on them.

As the news king of the underworld, he wasn't just talk—he had the strength to back it up.

Sure, he often exaggerated stories for clicks, but his journalistic integrity remained intact.

Pouring another glass of wine, he ordered, "Throw them out."

"And prepare to move our headquarters to the hidden sky island."

Morgans had discovered that floating island after eating the Bird-Bird Fruit, Model: Albatross. It had since become his secret base and storage vault for sensitive material.

"Understood, President!"

His staff hurried off to carry out the orders.

Meanwhile, completely unaware that all these powerful figures now had their eyes on him…

Sora was inside the laboratory aboard the Divine Slave, watching Reiju finish modifying his transformation device for the scientific battle suit.

Since the Divine Slave had cutting-edge Navy technology, it naturally came equipped with maintenance bays and labs.

After two hours of work, Reiju finally completed the modifications.

She handed the device to Sora with a smile. "It's done!"

"Awesome!"

Sora lit up with joy and immediately pulled Reiju into a hug, planting kisses on her.

"G-Go try it out already!" Reiju was overwhelmed, flushed and panting as she struggled out of his grasp.

If she didn't send him away now, she was afraid he'd have his way with her on the spot.

"Alright." Sora chuckled, grabbing her hand and dragging her toward the deck.

He'd been looking forward to this moment for a long time.